Vials Containing Lyophilized Drugs
The vial is slowly and gently shaken. Quick or sharp movements in the laminar flow hood are not acceptable since non laminar air flow results and the cleansing properties of laminar flow air are lost. Quick movements can also create particles.
In this example, an ampicillin 1 gram vial (as the sodium salt) is being constituted. Most dry drugs are in the salt form to increase aqueous solubility and make dissolution faster. In this example, immediately after reconstitution, part of the powder is still not in solution. It may take several minutes before total solution is achieved. Most lyophilized products will reconstitute almost immediately but some freeze dried drugs take up to 15 minutes to dissolve.
After several minutes at rest, true solution is achieved and air bubbles are eliminated. The solution should be checked for clarity, particulates, unexpected color changes, extra long dissolution time, and gas evolution before being placed into an intravenous solution.